The U.S. Men’s National Team was eliminated from the 2015 Gold Cup Wednesday night after a 2-1 Semifinal loss to Jamaica at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta.Trailing 2-0 at the start of the second half, the U.S. came out quickly on the attack and Michael Bradley scored his second goal of the tournament to cut the Jamaica in half. Chances continued to come for the MNT, but none found the net, and when the final whistle blew, it signaled the USA’s first loss to Jamaica in Gold Cup play.
Jamaica led at the break after two quick goals from set pieces late in the first half. Darren Mattocks headed home a long throw in the 31st minute and Giles Barnes doubled the lead five minutes later with a free kick from just outside of the box.
The USA will play either Panama or Mexico in the third-place game on Saturday, July 26 at PPL Park in Chester, Pennsylvania. The broadcast information on the semifinal is still to be determined.
The MNT will also face the winner of the 2015 CONCACAF Gold Cup later this year for a spot in the 2017 FIFA Confederations Cup. The one-game playoff pits the winner of the 2013 and 2015 Gold Cups against one another for a spot at the tournament in Russia the year before the World Cup. The USA last featured at the Confederations Cup in 2009 when the team beat then No. 1-ranked Spain and advanced to the Final against Brazil.
Milestone Watch:
- With his goal U.S. captain Michael Bradley became the fourth player with 15 goals & 15 assists for the #USMNT (Landon Donovan, Cobi Jones, Eric Wynalda)
- With tonight’s start, Bradley ties goalkeeper Tim Howard for 11th on the all-time MNT cap list with 104 appearances.
- Midfielder Kyle Beckerman made his 50th all-time appearance for the USA in tonight’s match.
Additional Notes:
- U.S. head coach Jurgen Klinsmann made two changes to his lineup from the Cuba Quarterfinal match: John Brooks returned to central defense after serving a one-game suspension, while Brad Evans stepped in at right back.
- Michael Bradley and Brad Guzan continued as the lone U.S. players to start all five matches of the tournament.
- The start was the first for Evans since the second Gold Cup group match, a 1-0 victory against Haiti on July 10 at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Mass.
- The MNT is now 13-2-8 all-time against Jamaica and is 10-1-3 against the Reggae Boyz at home. The U.S. record against Jamaica in the Gold Cup falls to 3-1-0.
- The MNT is 2-1-0 all-time in Atlanta.
- The loss was the first for the MNT under Jurgen Klinsmann in the Gold Cup.
– U.S. Men’s National Team Match Report –
Match: U.S. Men’s National Team vs. Jamaica
Date: July 22, 2015
Competition: 2015 CONCACAF Gold Cup; Semifinals
Venue: Georgia Dome; Atlanta, Georgia
Kickoff: 6 p.m. ET
Attendance: TBA
Weather: indoor
Date: July 22, 2015
Competition: 2015 CONCACAF Gold Cup; Semifinals
Venue: Georgia Dome; Atlanta, Georgia
Kickoff: 6 p.m. ET
Attendance: TBA
Weather: indoor
Scoring Summary: 1 2 F
USA 0 1 1
JAM 2 0 2
USA 0 1 1
JAM 2 0 2
JAM – Darren Mattocks (Kemar Lawrence) 31st minute
JAM – Giles Barnes 36
USA – Michael Bradley 48
JAM – Giles Barnes 36
USA – Michael Bradley 48
Lineups:
USA: 1-Brad Guzan; 16-Brad Evans, 6-John Brooks, 13-Ventura Alvarado, 23-Fabian Johnson; 5-Kyle Beckerman (10-Mix Diskerud,67) , 4-Michael Bradley (capt.), 20-Gyasi Zardes, 8-Clint Dempsey, 11-Alejandro Bedoya (2-DeAndre Yedlin, 78); 9-Aron Johannsson (26-Alan Gordon, 73)
Subs Not Used : 12-Nick Rimando, 22-William Yarbrough; 3-Omar Gonzalez, 15-Tim Ream, 18-Chris Wondolowski, 19-Graham Zusi, 21-Timmy Chandler, 24-Joe Corona, 25-DaMarcus Beasley
Head Coach: Jurgen Klinsmann
USA: 1-Brad Guzan; 16-Brad Evans, 6-John Brooks, 13-Ventura Alvarado, 23-Fabian Johnson; 5-Kyle Beckerman (10-Mix Diskerud,67) , 4-Michael Bradley (capt.), 20-Gyasi Zardes, 8-Clint Dempsey, 11-Alejandro Bedoya (2-DeAndre Yedlin, 78); 9-Aron Johannsson (26-Alan Gordon, 73)
Subs Not Used : 12-Nick Rimando, 22-William Yarbrough; 3-Omar Gonzalez, 15-Tim Ream, 18-Chris Wondolowski, 19-Graham Zusi, 21-Timmy Chandler, 24-Joe Corona, 25-DaMarcus Beasley
Head Coach: Jurgen Klinsmann
JAM: 23-Ryan Thompson; 19-Adrian Mariappa, 4-Wes Morgan, 3-Michael Hector, 20-Kemar Lawrence; 22-Garath McCleary, 17-Rodolph Austin (capt.), 10-Jobi McAnuff, 15-Je Vaughn Watson; 9-Giles Barnes (2-Christopher Humphrey, 85), 11-Darren Mattocks (18-Simon Dawkins, 57)
Sub Not Used: 1-Andre Blake, 6-Lance Laing, 7-Andre Clennon, 8-Michael Seaton, 13-Dwayne Miller, 14-Allan Ottey, 16-Joel Grant, 24-Omar Holness, 25-Sean McFarlane
Head coach: Winfried Schäfer
Sub Not Used: 1-Andre Blake, 6-Lance Laing, 7-Andre Clennon, 8-Michael Seaton, 13-Dwayne Miller, 14-Allan Ottey, 16-Joel Grant, 24-Omar Holness, 25-Sean McFarlane
Head coach: Winfried Schäfer
Stats Summary: USA / JAM
Shots: 21 / 10
Shots on Goal: 10 / 3
Saves: 1 / 9
Corner Kicks: 11 / 8
Fouls: 13 / 10
Offside: 1 / 4
Shots: 21 / 10
Shots on Goal: 10 / 3
Saves: 1 / 9
Corner Kicks: 11 / 8
Fouls: 13 / 10
Offside: 1 / 4
Misconduct Summary:
USA – Kyle Beckerman (caution) 31st minute
JAM – Garath McCleary 45+1
USA – DeAndre Yedlin 88
USA – Kyle Beckerman (caution) 31st minute
JAM – Garath McCleary 45+1
USA – DeAndre Yedlin 88